"What the computer models look like now are completely different from the way they looked four days ago," he said.

So for now, Jacquemin, who called the Feb. 8-9 blizzard "a historic event that will be talked for a long time" before the first flake fell, said this storm will drop about an inch along the coastline and maybe 2 inches along the Interstate 84 corridor beginning early Saturday morning before turning to all rain and possibly back to some slushy snow Saturday night.

Come Sunday, churchgoers can expect feel a cold rain in the morning with the gusty winds that will blow the storm away by afternoon.

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, whose city is still reeling from citizen's criticism over its clean-up of the nearly three feet of snow dumped during the blizzard, also was keeping a wary eye.

The city's Emergency Operations Center was to monitor projections throughout the weekend. Officials have already met with representatives from hospitals, utility providers, higher education institutions and transportation providers.

"We can't take anything for granted," Finch said. "I know workers have been out clearing snow from catch basins so this rain and melting snow will have someplace to go" before it can freeze.

If the weather turns for the worse, the mayor suggested residents use the BConnected request system online at www.bridgeportct.gov/bconnected or on the BConnected mobile application available on iPhone or Android smartphones to report any weather-related issues. They could also call 203-576-.1311.

"The city is monitoring this potential storm and working closely with all stakeholders to ensure the safety of our residents," Finch said. "Our plows are ready to hit the streets. Contractors are ready, if needed, to help with snow removal operations."

Interior sections of Connecticut, like the northwest hills could pick up a few of inches before the potent storm swirls up toward the Canadian coast Sunday.

The National Weather Service's hazardous weather outlook says: "Due to a lack of deep cold air to the north and easterly winds bringing is warmer air off the Atlantic, much of the precipitation will be in the form of rain. However, as the cold air begins to retreat tonight, some light snow may move in before daybreak Saturday with a light accumulation. There is a possibility that some light freezing rain/drizzle could mix in late tonight into Saturday morning before temperatures rise above freezing. This would result in slippery travel."

The NWS forecasts that it will become all rain by noon Saturday.

"On the backside of the low Saturday night," the weather service says, "should a surge of cold air be stronger than forecast and coincide with some heavier precipitation, there would be the potential for some accumulating snow. The best chance for this to happen would be across interior southeast Connecticut."

National Weather Service maps forecast less than half an inch south of I-84, between 4 to 8 in the Northwest Hills and 2 to 6 inches from central Connecticut to the Massachusetts border.

The most snow expected to fall -- more than a foot possible --will be in the southern Green Mountains in Vermont, southern New Hampshire to the White Mountains and into southwestern Maine. Areas west of Boston could get more than 8 inches.

Forecasters say it will be a heavy, wet snow that could cause downed tree limbs and scattered power outages.

The forecast Connecticut:

Tonight: A chance of snow, mainly after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. East wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Saturday: Snow likely before 11 a.m. then rain and snow likely between 11 a.m. and noon, then rain after noon. High near 37. East wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible.

Saturday night: Rain before 2 a.m. then rain and snow. Low around 34. East wind 11 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Sunday: A chance of rain and snow before 9 a.m. then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. North wind 8 to 10 mph with gusts of up to 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.